During the 2020 growing season, field demonstration plots were planted in five locations in
'During the past five years, we have conducted more than 50 field comparisons in
The AGCO team compared corn plant performance and yield based on three variables: Depth - Corn was planted at six depths ranging from 1 inch to 3.5 inches.
Downforce - Corn was planted with light downforce, heavy downforce and real-time automatic downforce control provided by DeltaForce automated downforce from Precision Planting.
Spacing - Corn was planted at two singulation rates - 93% and 99% seed spacing accuracy.
Corn was planted with a Fendt Momentum planter pulled by a row-crop tractor running dual tires. All comparisons were planted in 30-inch rows, with the exception of the
Takeaway No. 1: Plant into moisture and no less than 1.5 inches deep
Crop Tour comparisons verify there can be yield penalties when corn is planted too shallow or too deep. Plant too shallow (1-inch-deep or less), and the corn plant's nodal roots will develop at or just below the soil surface. Limited nodal root development is detrimental especially when conditions turn hot and dry. Lee says this was especially evident at the
'When we get tip-back, there is little or no kernel development on the last one or more inches of the ear tip. That's lost yield potential,' Lee says. 'Over the past five years, we found that corn planted 1.5-inches-deep yielded 13 more bushels per acre on average than corn planted 1-inch-deep. At current corn prices, we're talking about
In certain conditions, planting too deep can reduce the total number of plants that emerge and cause uneven emergence. Reduced emergence lowers the overall plant population; uneven emergence leads to runt plants that can't compete with their neighbors for resources. Both reduce yield potential. At the
'Typically, a planting depth of 2 inches will provide the maximum yield potential in most planting conditions. This can vary, however, and adjustments should be made based on soil moisture and the extended weather forecast,' Lee says. 'We know that planting depth is a simple adjustment to set, but it's such a critical piece to maximizing corn yield.'
Takeaway No. 2: Don't skimp on downforce
Once proper planting depth is determined, it's crucial that enough downforce is placed on each row unit to maintain that depth. Inconsistent depth control can also lead to uneven corn emergence, resulting in yield loss.
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